Monday, October 23, 2006

Being 15 Years Old



I forget how confusing it is to be 15 years old.

One day, you're dressed and buffed and polished in ways you've never before experienced. To your surprise, people say you're beautiful, but you just see a geeky, imperfect kid in the mirror.

Homecoming is exhilirating... dancing, laughing with friends. staying out until midnight (without your parents) for the first time in your life. It's all so intoxicatingly independent.

But the next day, your imperfection bites you in the rear. Your mom told you that people steal iPods. Your dad nagged you to be cautious about where you leave your purse. But you ignored them because you adore the freedom of your music, and, well... it's so very teenage-cool to carry an iPod, and parents don't really understand, anyway.

And yes, you took your iPod when it should've stayed at home, and you left your purse where it shouldn't be, and your treasured iPod got stolen.

You understand that you messed up, and it really, really hurts. For many reasons.

You feel like you always have homework and social pressures and tests. You get wonderful grades, study hard, worship God, do chores at home, (usually) obey your parents, and love your family and friends and dog.

But sometimes, all you want to do is play your guitar. And listen to your iPod...

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Ten Things God Will Ask You on Judgment Day


A friend emailed this to me this evening, and I adore it.

10 things God will ask you on Judgment Day

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.


2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5. God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.


6. God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character.

9. God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of hell.

10. God won't have to ask how many people you told about this list. He already knows your decision.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Busy Weekend in San Francisco


I'm blogging these words while sitting in a hip hotel room in one of the great cities, San Francisco. The built-in desk here spans the length of my window view of the financial district and the edge of Chinatown. I lulled to sleep last night with skyscraper lights magically beaming into my room.

The sky is clear and bright baby-blue today. The air is cool, clean and breezy. It's a glorious and beautiful day in San Francisco.

I've visited "The City" many dozens of times, but have never seen it so teeming with humanity:

It's Fleet Week, and three ships of uniformed sailors on weekend shore-leave roam the city.

This weekend, there's a free multi-night Bluegrass concert, featuring Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and 60 other performers. It's expected to draw more than 300,000 attendees.

Oakland A's fans are celebrating sweet victory yesterday over the Minnesota Twins, and their progression to baseball's AL championship.
Tomorrow is the San Francisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders football game.

And the Blue Angels gave an airshow today, thrilling all with magnificent fly-bys over the San Francisco Bay.

I'm here for an About.com/New York Times weekend meeting, and leave soon for dinner with the NYT crowd. Fortunately, we have reservations (for about 100!).

It's all thrilling and fun, and the city pulsates with laughter and excitement...

But catching a cab is a time-consuming challenge.

In fact, it's 5:40 PM now. Dinner's at 7 PM. I better start now... :)